How to Replace a Heating Element in a Samsung Dryer

Using a Samsung dryer to dry your clothes is a real luxury. The dryer works hard so you can have your clothes warm and dry, and ready to wear in no time. But what do you do when the heating element burns out? 

The good news is that you can replace it on your own and save yourself some money on labor costs. This may sound a bit intimidating, but fear not; we’ve got what you need. In this blog post, we will give you everything you need to know about replacing the heating element in your Samsung dryer.

You can find a heating element for your dryer at your local big box hardware store, a Samsung appliance dealer, or online through Amazon or another 3rd party seller. 

Be sure to consult your manual or the Samsung website to find the type of heating element that fits your Samsung dryer model.

Now that you have your replacement heating element, we can begin the repair.

You Will Need: 

• A Phillips head screwdriver
• A flathead screwdriver
• A set of pliers
• Your replacement heating element

Step 1. Unplug the Dryer

First things first, unplug the dryer from the wall outlet. We cannot emphasize this enough: electricity and repairs can be a dangerous mix. So, unplug the dryer before anything else.

Next, pull the dryer away from the wall so you can access the back panel. 

Now, you will need to disconnect the vent hose. You may need a set of pliers to undo the clamp securing the vent to the dryer.

Step 2. Open the Dryer

Once you have disconnected the dryer from its power source, remove the screws at the top of the back of the dryer that secures the lid.

Be sure to set the screws aside in a small container so that you can find them again.

Pop open the lid and reinsert the screws to prop open the lid without disconnecting the wires.

Now, undo the four screws at the front of the top of the dryer. Then undo the three screws on the front of the dryer behind the door. You should now be able to remove the front of the dryer and pull it up and out. Then, you can undo the door harness (the little wire bracket at the top of the dryer).

Next, you can undo the six screws holding the bulkhead on. The bulkhead is the frame that helps hold the drum in place. There are four screws at the top and two at the bottom.

While undoing the bottom screws, undo the wiring to the moisture sensor in the bottom right corner of the dryer. You can now take the bulkhead off.

Step 3. Disconnect the Pulleys and Remove the Drum

Now that you have the dryer open, you can reach in and disconnect the pulleys. You do this by pushing the smaller pulley in and slipping the belt off of the pulleys.

Using the belt, you can lift the drum up and out of the dryer. 

While you have the dryer exposed, you can clean the lint out of the dryer. Excess lint in the body of the dryer is one of the main causes of the heating element shorting out.

Step 4. Open the Heating Element Casing

Remember, before removing any wires, take a photo or draw a diagram of how they are connected to the element. This will help you when you need to reattach them after the repair. Now that you have access to the heating element, remove the old element by unscrewing any visible screws on the bracket holding it in place.

You can undo the connections to the thermistor, thermostat, and thermal fuse by using a pair of needle nose pliers or a flathead screwdriver.

Step 5. Replace the Heating Element

Next, install the new heating element by attaching it to the bracket, threading the wires, and securing it with screws. Then, reattach the wires to the heating element using the photo or diagram you took earlier. Make sure the wires are secure before securing the heating element back in place.

Step 6. Reassemble the Dryer

To reassemble the dryer, replace the drum back into the dryer. Reconnect the belt to the pulleys. Reconnect the moisture sensor. Reattach the bulkhead. Align the front with the front of the dryer and reconnect the harness. Then screw the screws back into the front of the dryer. 

Now screw in the screws at the top of the dryer. Finally, put the top of the dryer back in place and screw it back in at the back of the dryer.

Plug your reassembled dryer back into the outlet and give it a test run. Turn your dryer on, and in no time, you should feel the heat. It’s important to make sure that you run the dryer with an empty load first, just in case.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re not comfortable with doing this repair yourself, it’s best to call a professional. Hiring an expert repair person will ensure that the job is done correctly and safely. However, this is a relatively simple, if time-consuming, repair, and anyone can do it with the proper safety precautions and a little bit of confidence.

Thanks to the handy explanation given in this post, you can now confidently replace the heating element in your Samsung dryer by yourself. 

Always remember if you are not confident about proceeding or have any doubts, it’s best to call a professional technician to handle the job. But, by taking the time to learn and understand the process, you can save yourself some time and money when it comes to repairing your Samsung dryer. So go ahead, try it out, and don’t forget to give yourself that pat on the back once the job’s been done.